Samsung and Toshiba agreed to pay $25 million to resolve a class action alleging that they participated in an industry-wide conspiracy to fix optical disk drive prices. The plaintiffs settling the case were indirect purchasers of the drives; ie. consumers. If approved, the proposed deal would bring the total amount of consumer settlements in the case to $205 million.
Samsung and Toshiba were among the defendants named in the litigation over the price of optical disk drives, a key component for reading and writing data on CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are found in computers, video game consoles and other devices. The litigation, which centered on an alleged industry-wide price-fixing conspiracy, was consolidated in 2010 and included claims brought by indirect purchasers, direct purchasers, retailers and states.
In December, the federal district court granted Samsung, Toshiba and Philips Corp. summary judgment in the MDL, finding the consumers didn’t prove the alleged conspiracy had pass-through effects causing injury or damages. But the consumers appealed that ruling to the Ninth Circuit.
The MDL is In re: Optical Disk Drive Products Antitrust Litigation, case number 3:10-md-02143, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Northern California.
This blog is intended to provide information to the general public and to practitioners about developments that may impact Oregon class actions.